Pint sized Diamondback Centurion
 

Honestly, my wife probably paid more than this is worth, but she did it before I got up this morning so I guess I'll just roll with it. $10 Diamondback Centurion. Hopefully I can turn it into a single speed, but the dropouts look a bit on the short and vertical side.

Spent the afternoon tearing it down. Probably going to end up giving it a paint job too since it isn't anything all the special of a frame. Honestly, the most notable bit about it is the size. I can easily stand over the top bar and my inseam is 30" on a tall day (I'm 5'2" and change, LOL).

I'll take any insights on what kind of things I can do with this though as this is my first time working on something like this. Thanks all!

***UPDATE*** Current goal for this bike is to turn it into a modern as possible commuter. I'm thinking of getting as much of a Tiagra groupset on this as possible. Hopefully I can get a modern bottom bracket into it, but if not I'm going to be looking around for a 50/34 crankset that fits what is on there currently. Any insights on the BB on this bike before I get it torn all the way apart would be helpful! This is essentially one giant learning experience for me, so we'll see how it goes and if I just end up giving up and going with a modern steel frame commuter.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/553/32...cb844ae1_k.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/553/32...5efadb68_k.jpg

Pic assist

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/553/32...f009403a_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/553/32...279059b1_z.jpg

Argh, thanks

pics looked fine to me. and so does the bike- cool find and looks pretty as is! your wife rules-

More info on this bike here - http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...road-bike.html

I'd pay $10 for it based on the pics, but it needs $50+ in parts and a bunch of work. Lugged DB road bikes aren't exactly common, I wouldn't paint it.

I went back in and fixed as he was updating... I'm fairly fail at forums, lol. However as for the bike, it's really rusty all around. Also, as we were pulling it apart the headset feels like there are some bad/mangled bearings in there. I'll keep updating here as I get it going.

Oh really? Neat. Definitely needs a lot in parts. I've got almost everything stripped off, but most components are rusted immobile.

Your wife made a very nice find. The bike has a lot of potential. Have fun with the refurb if you choose to do so.

Dennis

Edit: Just want to add, for $10, you just gave yourself a great blank slate just in case you want to be creative with it.

Well no kidding. These sorts of insights are why I came on here. I was honestly more thinking I'd just go crazy with it since we're only in $10, but who knows? I need to knock the rest of the rust off and see what's really there, but so far I think I might be able to keep her as is and maybe just put some new components on.

I can see the rust on the cogs, chain, pedals, quick release and some of the fasteners. However, the frame looks to be quite good condition, so I'd probably resist painting it. I've seen these with Tange Infinity, which was a cost effective, seamed version of Tange #2. So, it should be a relatively light and resilient frame.

Def would not paint.

If the seat post and stem arent stuck I'd prolly refurb the bike. Diamond Back road bikes are pretty rare as someone else pointed out, and they're pretty nice bikes, imo. I would not paint.

Great base for a project. I'm in agreeance with the others: no need to paint; however, it's your bike so do what you will. Small, good quality road bikes aren't easy to find so I think you did quite well for $10.

It is definitely worth what she paid for it. I would clean it up, replace chain, cables/housings, and brake pads, and keep the versatile 18-speed transmission. If she does not like downtube shift, consider barcons.

So, I have it stripped down to the cranks, chain and the forks because I couldn't get them pulled (yay lack of tools!). I think something might be seized on the forks too up top maybe? I don't know... I'll post pictures later. I'm going to start knocking the rust off all the bits this weekend and I'll do pictures so maybe if you gents are feeling generous you can help me figure out what among them is salvageable.

As odd as this is, I can't think of it as light because my larger '72 Raleigh International frame feels lighter. I am looking forward to restoring this though.

Its really cute...though it is my size and I think all tiny bikes are cute lol. I havent been too interested in Diamondbacks but for that price, I definitely would have bought it! It seems, at least in my area, the smaller the vintage bike, the higher the price...I'd love to come upon a deal like that.

I wouldnt paint it either...the paint looks to be in pretty good shape and it shouldnt be too hard to find a touch up color if needed.

I would love to get in on some of these $10 bikes. Everyone in my area thinks their "old, classic, vintage" Huffy is worth a fortune. It's borderline ridiculous. :foo:

Nice find. I'm constantly on the hunt for small frame bikes like that for the women in my family & their friends. I would tear it down to bare frame & soak all the parts in diesel. Toss the chain and, everything else that's worn out. Put it back together & ride it.

are you kidding, you can spend 10 bucks at In and Out..rather have the bike even if it cost 50 to get it going.

So, I'm going to bump this up a bit. I've figured out what I'm going to do with this bike. I want to turn it into a commuter. So, I'm going to dump some money into getting components on it. I'm wanting to go as modern as I can. I wasn't able to finish stripping it down completely, so tomorrow I'm going to drop it with the LBS. There are a lot of rust spots coming up on it, so I'm honestly inclined at this point to just paint it to protect the frame so it can hold up to hard use as a commuter. I will look into finding reproduction decals though for sure and apply them under the clear. I am going to give just doing touchups and a fresh coat of clear a try during the process, but honestly, there is a LOT that will need to be done.

SO, any insights in some bottom brackets/components that might work with this pint sized bike would be VERY gladly welcomed!

I like the brown chain :thumb:

It does look like a great find for $10. Is that chromoly? Butted?

I'm not sure I'd go single speed, but I'd probably change it to a "double", or if you don't like shifting, a single front ring. Not that a triple really hurts anything

I think its a nice color blue. Some new white tape and a white seat, it will be a looker. Touched up original paint will be more durable than new paint and you save the nice contrasting white decals. Hit it with some rubbing compound or a cleaner wax and that blue will really pop.
Ugggh on the black crank - has anyone seen one that wasn't all faded and rusted within a year ? For the life of me I can't understand why mfr's keep rolling those out.

I'd put a riser stem & upright handlebars on it. Either trigger or thumb shifters. Four finger brake levers. Cheap black foam hand grips. Vinyl seat with steel coil springs. Racks on front & back. Some collapsable canvas baskets. And oh yeah, a bell. Yowza! Now that's a city bike. Perfect size for my wife to make a grocery run.

So, currently I'm gonna keep it kinda roadie as my commute is 17 miles with a smidge over 1000ft gain one way and then the downhill on the way back, so I want to keep it in the drops so I can attack the downhill coming home. (Seriously, it is a fiveish miles straight shot! SO MUCH WHEEEE) So I'm inclined more towards some STI/Ergo shifters at this point.

I was getting ready to drop about $1500 on getting a Surly Straggler my wife asked if I could put a rack and everything I wanted on the Diamond Back. So, currently I'm looking at as much of a new Shimano Tiagra setup as will work on it and some new wheels. All out it looks like I could get it upgraded for about $500 and have a sweet riding steel frame for commuting. My bigger concern is bottom bracket/crank compatibility. From what I'm reading/browsing online it seems like most compatibility shouldn't be too terrible as this appears to be an early 90s-ish bike, which is great news.

Mostly though, I'm just hoping I can get these upgrades figured out. I'm going to try and do as much of it as I can, but I'm really not being too successful pulling it apart right now. Nothing is overtly seized up, but I'm just not too savvy. :S

[MENTION=448009]pandraztic[/MENTION] I think you can do much better than spend $500 on a bike that will only be worth about $150-200 when all said and done. With a little patience and $200 in parts you can have this thing in a good spot.

Re: Bottom bracket and compatibility, you should be mostly in the clear based on the era of production.

(I mentioned this before, but if you want a hand disassembling/reassembling the thing lemme know)